Lower fuel consumption and lower CO2 emission boost demand
The pushbelt for the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is very much on the up-and-up. This week, the ten millionth pushbelt was produced at Bosch - Van Doorne’s Transmissie in Tilburg. The annual production at Bosch - Van Doorne’s Transmissie will this year exceed two million units. Low fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions are driving up demand for the Continuously Variable Trans-
mission. Bosch expects that by 2015 there will be sold
eight million cars a year with CVT on the world market.
Colourful history, bright future
The pushbelt originated in the Netherlands. In 1958 Hub
van Doorne developed the Variomatic for DAF, the stepless gearbox in which a rubber belt ensured a smooth shift. The rubber was very rapidly replaced by steel, and in 1968 the first worldwide patent for the pushbelt was awarded. In 1972 Hub van Doorne established his own company to produce pushbelts, Van Doorne’s Transmissie BV. After a difficult start, series production of the first generation of pushbelts began in 1985. In the mid-nineties annual production amounted to 250,000 units.
Success in Asia, increasing demand in Europe
The first generation of pushbelts was available on certain models of Ford, Fiat and Subaru from 1985. Demand for pushbelts only got any real stimulus in the early nineties when almost all Japanese car makers invested in CVT.
The Bosch Group took over Van Doorne’s Transmissie in 1995. The same year the second generation of pushbelts came on the market. Bosch invested in the further growth of the company and aimed for an annual production of 1 million belts. That production volume was achieved as soon as 2002. In 2005 1 million units a year was exceeded and this year production will amount to over 2 million units.
In 2006 worldwide installation of CVTs already exceeded
2.5 million units. According to Bosch, the level of installation should amount to 5 million in 2010 and in 2015 the number of CVTs in cars throughout the world should reach 8 million.
Ecological and economical motoring
CVT is a technology with tremendous growth potential. Stepless gear changes reduce fuel consumption by 15%. Furthermore, CO2 emissions are also a good deal lower than with a conventional gearbox. The economic and ecological advantages should boost demand for CVT
in the coming years.
Today, more than 60 models with a CVT pushbelt are available throughout the world. In Europe fourteen models with CVT are available from 2007 and many more are expected to follow. CVT and the associated pushbelts are available for all models – from the smallest car to the biggest SUV with over 200kW (272pk). Neither does the fuel type matter. CVTs are being used in diesel, petrol and hybrid
cars.
More information about this press release
Mark van Zanten
Bosch – Van Doorne’s Transmissie
Tel. +31 (0)13 464 03 77
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